by Mabon Dane

Created on: February 21, 2010   Last Updated: February 25, 2010

Hadrians Wall was constructed as a defensive fortification to keep the wild and unconquerable Caledonian tribes of the north in check, whilst also acting as a fixed border of the Roman Empire. 

The Roman Emperor Hadrian visited Britain in AD 122 to quell a military mutiny, ordered all three of the surviving British Roman Legions to construct his wall in AD 122, which was completed six years later.  Hadrians Wall is located in the north of England, constructed of timber and stone, measuring 80 Roman miles (73.5 statute miles) from coast to coast.

Caledonia that comprises all of Scotland and down to Carlisle in the North of England, was a source of constant trouble to the Romans.  In AD 79 the Roman General Agricola opened his campaign against the Caledonians leading to a five year fight ending in victory at the Battle of Mons Graupius in AD 84.  It was quickly realised that the elusive, wild Caledonian tribes who ranged the mountains, forests, isles and lakes of the north were not going to be civilized or beaten. In the fighting with the Caledonians a Roman legion, possibly the ninth, was wiped out, this in part resulted in Agricola being recalled to Rome. The Romans opted for containment of the Caledonians through a series of fortresses until the coming of Hadrian in AD 122.

Hadrian who ruled from AD 117 to AD 138 was one of the better Roman emperors who consolidated the Roman Empire and its boundaries, ruling a relatively peaceful empire.  Hadrian opted for diplomacy, pragmatism and a policy of peace through strength to keep order in the Empire.  One policy was to build defensive walls along the boundaries of the Empire manned by the legions and their auxilia equivalents.  In AD 122 the British based Roman legions were in mutiny, and the Brigantes of the Midlands were rebelling due to their treatment by the Romans.  Once Hadrian had crushed the mutiny he gave the three surviving legions the task of constructing Hadrians Wall, a project that would last six years. 

Hadrians Wall became one of the most heavily defended fortifications in the Empire, made of stone or timber depending on the local availability of building material.  Apparently it was the legions who constructed the wall, but the auxiliary (non legionary soldiers) defended the wall. About 17 Roman fortresses were constructed along the wall with about 1000 cavalry and infantry stationed at each point.  There was gates and turrets at regular points along the wall offering entrance to both sides, with customs points added. 

After the death of Hadrian in AD 138 the new Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius faced further disturbances from the Caledonians and attempted to subdue them in military expeditions and with the construction of a new wall 100 miles north of Hadrians Wall, which became known as the Antonine Wall. The Antonine Wall was started in AD 142 and took twelve years to complete.

Around AD 162 the Antonine Wall was abandoned and the Roman legions withdrew back to Hadrians Wall.  By AD 410 Rome was in serious trouble from barbarian invasions and the last legion remaining at Hadrians Wall was recalled leaving Britain undefended.  The Caledonians eventually overran the former Roman positions and the wall fell into ruin.

Despite much of the wall being scavenged by the locals for building material, in the modern era there still remains much to see of this former Roman engineering feat.

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